2011-2012 Syllabus

General Rules:  Be on time, be prepared, be respectful and be responsible.

Preparation for Class: Students are required to bring their agenda (assignment notebook), a pencil, pen, paper, completed homework and a current free-reading book to each class unless otherwise directed. Other necessary items will be requested with advance warning.

Expectations for class:

• Find books, authors, subjects, and themes that matter to you, to your life, to who you are, and who you want to become.
• Keep a list in your journal of your interests as a reader: authors, subjects, purposes, and genres.
• Try new authors, subjects, purposes, and genres. Expand your reading schemas.
• Develop and articulate your criteria for selecting and abandoning books.
• Write a letter at least once a week in your reading log about what you think and notice about your reading. Turn in your log on time each week (Wednesdays).
• Read as much as you can, as joyfully as you can.
• Read for at least thirty minutes each night, seven nights a week.
• Keep a record of the books you read. There will be a book list in the back of your log. Maintain a chronological record of the books you finish reading or abandon.
• Be an active participant in our class discussions about literature. Openly share your ideas, thoughts, and questions.
• Complete assignments and projects to the best of your ability and turn assignments in on time.
• Do a “book review” of the books you read independently.
• Work as hard in reading as I do. Live other lives and learn about your own. See how other writers have written - acquire their knowledge. Escape, imagine, think, connect, contrast, travel, imagine, laugh, cry, love, and grow.

Late Work:

• Per middle school policy, no late work will be accepted. A zero will be given for any assignment that is not turned in during the class period that it is due. Exceptions will only be granted for extenuating circumstances on an individual teacher/student basis.

Missed Work:

• It is the student’s responsibility to obtain the homework assignments, notes & any other pertinent information that is missed during an absence.
• If the absence is anticipated, please contact me prior to the anticipated absence to make arrangements.
• You will have the same amount of time to complete missed work as the time of the absence. For example, if you miss two days of school, you will have two days to complete the work. There will be no exceptions, however, for long-term assignments (projects, book talks, etc.)

Grading:

• Middle School Grading Scale:

• Each grade will be updated on Skyward. Please check Skyward weekly to be aware of your overall grade in Literature, as well as individual grades on assignments and projects.